Informative Articles

Shipping Container Delivery Guide

At Georgia Storage Containers, Inc., we have over 75 years of combined experience working in the portable storage industry. We’ve seen and done it all!

You might think that the hardest part of renting a storage container is deciding what size of shipping container is best for you and your needs. But successful delivery of your storage container or containers can actually be the most difficult part. To address the common problems that we run into, we’ve put together this delivery guide.

Before you decide to rent a storage container, shipping container, or “easy access” modular rental from Georgia Storage Containers, make sure that you know the three things that are key to a successful delivery.

CONTAINER REGULATIONS & RESTRICTIONS

Imagine getting your rental storage container delivered, loaded up to the brim with your valuable items, and then receiving a call from the city or county, that it’s not allowed.

Before you spend any of your hard-earned money renting a shipping container, it is important to research if there are any regulations or restrictions for storage containers in your city, county, or homeowners association.

Most municipalities, counties, and associations allow storage containers. However, it’s a good idea to make sure you are not in violation of any regulations.

If a shipping container is not allowed, we also offer smooth sided “easy access” modular units as well. They have a roll up door and are similar to the PODS™ containers.

APPROPRIATE ON-SITE LOCATION

One of the most important steps to complete before ordering your shipping container is making sure that the site where you wish to place your container is suitable.

Level Surface

Once delivered, shipping containers | storage containers sit in direct contact with the ground. While you can place your shipping container on almost any surface, choosing a level site with adequate drainage allows you to get the most from your storage container. Placing your container on a site that is not level and does not have adequate drainage can lead to problems opening and closing your container’s cargo doors.

However, your site does not need to be perfectly level. Our delivery drivers carry small pieces of 1” x 2” pressure treated wood and a jack. They will check the doors before leaving and are able to shim up a corner if necessary.

If the storage container is not sitting on a concrete or paved surface, additional re-leveling of the container may be needed over time. For containers sitting directly on the ground (grass or dirt surfaces), we recommend that the container be placed on landscape timbers or railroad ties. Doing so, will aid in preventing the corners of the container from sinking or settling into the ground over time.

Adequate Space for Delivery

Locations that do not have adequate space for delivery can create major issues for our drivers. In rare cases, if the space on-site is not adequate to deliver your storage container, we may not be able to drop the container exactly where you want it. Before you place an order for a shipping container or storage container, take a look at your intended container location and make sure that our delivery driver has enough space to maneuver at your location.

Due to the nature of the delivery process, every delivery site MUST HAVE at least 15 ft of overhead clearance and at minimum 2X the length of the container in a straight line.

When a container is delivered, the delivery driver will set one end of the container on the ground and pull out from underneath the container. The storage container and the delivery truck/trailer will be in one long straight line as he does so. For a better idea of this process, take a look at this video produced by the National Portable Storage Association.

Depending on the size of the shipping container you select, your container will be delivered on a small roll-back truck or a tilt bed trailer. At Georgia Storage Containers, Inc., we strongly recommend that your intended site meets, at minimum, the requirements below.
For a successful delivery:

A 20 ft Storage Container requires 15ft of overhead clearance and approx. 50-60ft of space in a straight drive

A 40 ft Storage Container requires 15ft of overhead clearance and approx. 80-100ft of space in a straight drive

A 48 ft or 53 ft Storage Container requires 15ft of overhead clearance and approx. 100-125ft of space in a straight drive

DOOR DIRECTION

When a shipping container is delivered, the delivery driver sets one of the short ends of the shipping container on the ground and drives out from underneath the container. Together the shipping container and the delivery truck make one long straight line during this process.

Standard shipping containers are built with one set of double cargo doors located on one of the short sides of the container. When the container is loaded on a truck or trailer for delivery, it can be loaded with those doors facing toward the driver’s cab or facing towards the rear of the truck/trailer. If the doors are facing the driver’s cab, the doors will touch the ground last. If the doors are facing the rear, the doors will touch the ground first.

The direction of doors when the container is loaded, determine how the doors will be positioned on-site and how you have access to your items.

CONTACT US

At Georgia Storage Containers, Inc., we are proud to offer a wide variety of shipping containers, “easy-access” modular rentals, and storage trailers for rent. Whatever your needs, we have the perfect solution for you. Our units are available for rent in lengths from 10 ft to 53 ft. We have over 25 years in the container rental industry and understand your storage requirements. If you would like to speak with us one on one, a container specialist is standing by to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to call us today at (678) 829-5902 or complete an online quote request.